A MONTESSORI EDUCATION
RESOURCES
There is an abundance of information about the Montessori approach to educating children. Here are some we recommend:
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The American Montessori Society’s Introduction to Montessori provides an excellent explanation of the Montessori approach to education and its benefits.
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The American Montessori Society Family Support Materials webpage lists a number of excellent articles, books, and videos.
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Author Peter Sims’ article The Montessori Mafia in the Wall Street Journal is thoughtful and provocative.
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Where the Children Work for Themselves is an insightful blog entry from The Center for Guided Montessori Studies, which provides training and certification for Montessori teachers.
SUGGESTED READING
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The Absorbent Mind by Maria Montessori
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Montessori Madness! A Parent to Parent Argument for Montessori Education by Trevor Eissler
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Montessori: The Science Behind the Genius by Angeline Stoll Lillard
MYTHS & FACTS
If you’re new to Montessori – or even if you’re not – you may have heard a variety of opinions. There are some persistent myths about Montessori, some of them contradictory. Here are a few of the most prevalent:
TAKE A LOOK
- Take a peek inside a typical Montessori classroom to see what makes it so unique.
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Learn why the Montessori kindergarten year—the third and final year of the Montessori Early Childhood cycle—is a foundation for life.
MONTESSORIANS YOU MAY KNOW
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Joshua Bell, American superstar violinist
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Jeff Bezos, financial analyst, founder of Amazon.com
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T. Berry Brazelton, M.D., noted pediatrician and author
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Sergey Brin & Larry Page, co-founders of Google.com
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Julia Child, famous chef, star of many TV cooking shows and author of numerous cookbooks
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George Clooney, Academy Award-winning actor
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Kami Cotler, actress (youngest child on long-running series The Waltons)
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Peter Drucker, management consultant, author, professor
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Anne Frank, famous diarist from World War II
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Melissa and Sarah Gilbert, actors
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Katharine Graham, owner-editor of the Washington Post
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Friedensreich Hundertwasser, Austrian painter and architect
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Helen Hunt, Academy Award-winning actress
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Gabriel Garcia Marquez, Nobel Prize winner for Literature
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Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis, first lady (John F. Kennedy) and editor
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Lea Salonga, Filipino-American singer and Broadway actress
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Jimmy Wales, founder of Wikipedia
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Prince William and Prince Harry Windsor, English royal family
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Will Wright, designer of The Sims
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Patty Duke Austin, actress
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Cher Bono, singer and actress
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Elizabeth Berridge, actress
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David Blaine, street magician
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John Bradshaw, psychologist and author
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Yul Brynner, actor
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Stephen J. Cannell, TV writer-producer-director (The Rockford Files and many others)
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Marcy Carcy, TV producer
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Bill and Hillary Clinton, former U.S. president/Senator and Secretary of State
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Michael Douglas, actor
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Shari Lewis, puppeteer
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Yo Yo Ma, world-famous cellist
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Willie Nelson, musician, has a Montessori school on his ranch
THE BASICS
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The aim of Montessori education is to foster competent, responsible, adaptive citizens who are lifelong learners and problem solvers.
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The individual is considered as a whole. The physical, emotional, social, aesthetic, spiritual, and cognitive needs and interests are inseparable and equally important.
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Respect and caring attitudes for oneself, others, the environment, and all life are necessary.
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Learning occurs in an inquiring, cooperative, nurturing atmosphere. Students increase their own knowledge through self- and teacher-initiated experiences.